Why is my desktop and icons huge?
 

I installed some security updates on my computer yesterday , and when it said to restart now or later. I choose to do this later. I was watching a movie and then half way through the computer shut down and then when it restarted the desktop, toolbar at the bottom and icons where all huge, and when you open applications and internet screens etc they are all way to big to fit within the screen. Please help. I need to know how to get the size of it all back to normal.

Maybe your resolution has been changed. Somewhere in screen menu, you should find proper option.

Monitor resolution settings don't work
 

ive tried changing resolution through preferences and the monitor setting. But it hasn't seemed to change anything. It can only be applied to auto. any other suggestions

Do you have installed current drivers for your video card? Can you output result of command "xrandr"?

im not entirley sure what that means. Im not sure about the video drivers. Im computer literate but not programmer literate.

I forgot to tell you that im running ubuntu/ gnome

Open a terminal (applications > accessories > terminal) and simply type xrandr and hit enter. Then post the output here in CODE tags so they will be easier to read. Or just post them if you can't figure out code tags here on the forums.
Here is a tutorial on using xrandr on Ubuntu:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution

No command 'xrander' found, did you mean:
Command 'xrandr' from package 'x11-xserver-utils' (main)
xrander: command not found
kingston@kingston-desktop:~$

without the "e" (it's only "xrandr").

Tip: on terminal, use the <TAB> key to complete commands, avoiding typo errors - try it: enter "xra" and hit <TAB>

how retarded am i lol. spelt correctly this time,

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 640 x 480, maximum 640 x 480
default connected 640x480+0+0 0mm x 0mm
640x480 50.0*
320x240 51.0
kingston@kingston-desktop:~$

As eSelix, already asked in post #4 in this thread:
What video card do you have???
If you have nvidia or ati video card, have you installed the proper drivers???
What is the default resolution for your monitor??? And what resolution do you want to use???
Did you read that tutorial I linked to on using xrandr???

Write back with the requested info and hopefully we can find a solution here.

The video card is nvidia driver version 173.14.22

My brother installed ubuntu on my computer so im unsure if the proper drivers are installed.

The default resolution I think it is just on auto, i looked in the avidia x server settings and it is on auto the only other options are 640 x 480 and 320 x 240.

Im not sure what resolution i want or what it was before, just back the way it was before it did this. It was great before, now some windows when there open you try clicking on the x or some of the other things like file, etc and the window jumps round. Like when i use rhythembox i cannot select songs individually by clicking on them or selecting them to drag to my ipod as the window jumps around making really frustrating to try and use.

I did read the turtorial, some of it made sense.

System -> Preferences -> Monitors. In the "Resolution" dropdown, select "1024x768". Click "Apply", and then click the option to "Save" if you get the 15s countdown. Now, you're all set!

When i go to preferences> monitors it comes up with the follow message.

It appears that your graphics driver does not support the nessasary extensions to use this tool. Do you want to use your graphics driver vendors tool instead? YES/NO

Also if you choose yes or no the options only give me No option 640 x 480 (4:3) and 320x 240 (4:3) and YES option gives me Auto, 640x 480 and 320 x 240.

Hello Pixi! I need to ask you something. Are you using Ubuntu 10.10? Perhaps this may work for you. Try this:

Go to "Applications---Accessories--Terminal. Type in this:

sudo -s

Now enter your root password. this is your login password at startup: Hit "enter".

You are now on "root".

First back up a copy of your X-org Configuration file, like this:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup

It seems you have a least recent generation NVidia Accelerated Graphics card GeForce FX series or above.

Now, if you are using a flat screen, try to get your monitor manual, read it carefully and look for where it's written the values of "HorizSync - (a figure is given e.g. 50-75)
"VertRefresh- (a figure is given e.g. 60-120).

Now, let us try this: Hit this command:

gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

This command opens up your X-org configuration file. You are now ready to edit your Screen configuration.

You'll see something like this:

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg


So far so good. Now, in this section, you will find small details of what your monitor, screen and your graphics card are. Don't worry about that. You'll find something like this: The following is for the monitor section:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Endsection

Now for the screen section:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 24
Endsection

Here, we want to add some lines to the configuration. If your screen supports resolutions up to 1920x1200, the default depth is 24. If it doesn't appear, please add it as shown. Remember, when you add in your parameters, these are case sensitive! Write them as they are, like as shown above. Now, remember I asked you to get the values for your monitor, theHorizSync and the VertRefresh values. You'll add them using the guide I'll show you now. Also add the viewport as shown. Also, you depth and your desired screen resolution. Remember, do not remove what you find already configured for your screen. Faithfully add the extra values I've been referring to.

I'm sure you want to use 1280x1024. Good resolution choice, if you want. This one has a refresh rate of 60. But, follow the recommended screen resolution as suggested by your monitor manual(which can be downloaded from the internet).

Your monitor manual will suggest the recommended screen resolution and the refresh rate. Use the recommended screen resolution.

So, please put your desired screen resolution(or the recommended one from the manual) exactly as shown below(Oh, I also run an NVidia card with the same driver version "173"):

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
HorizSync 30-83
VertRefresh 50-75
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

The above is my screen configuration. You may find something here similar to your configuration since you are an NVidia user as well. Now, add those extra values we talked about earlier, very carefully. Look at the spacing, Caps, Start and End Quotes. Follow exactly. Don't panic.

After doing that hit the "Save" button at the top of the Gedit window. Close it, and exit "root" by typing "exit".

Your login name will show. Type "exit" and you are out. Now , restart the computer.

Please tell me how it goes. I had this problem too and was solved this way. I'm more than happy to share this with you.

I use Ubuntu 9.04.

Thanks also to all of you guys who are helping out, "tommcd" and everyone. Much love.